From the foot washing.
John 13:1-17.
Before the feast of Easter, when Jesus knew that his time was come to depart out of this world unto the Father; as he had loved his own which were in the world, so loved he them unto the end. And after supper, when the devil had already put into the heart of Judah Simonis Iscarioth, that he should betray him, Jesus knew that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God, and was going to God: and he arose from supper, and laid aside his garments, and took an apron, and girded himself about. Then he poured water into a basin, and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to dry them with the apron, that he might be girded about. Then he came to Simon Petro, and the same said unto him, Lord, wilt thou wash my feet? Jesus answered and said unto him, What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter. Then said Peter unto him, Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me. Simon Peter saith unto him, Lord, not the feet only, but the hands also, and the head. Jesus saith unto him, He that is washed must not wash his feet, but is clean altogether. And ye are clean; but not all. For he knew his betrayer well: therefore said he, Ye are not all clean. When he had washed their feet, he took his clothes and sat down again, and said to them again: Know ye what I have done unto you? You call me Master and Lord, and you say rightly, for I am also. If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet, ye shall also wash one another's feet. An example have I given you, that ye should do as I have done unto you. Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord, neither the apostle greater than he that sent him. If ye know these things, blessed are ye that do them.
1 This history of the washing of the feet is found only in John; and it seems as if it was not very important, because without it the other evangelists would have forgotten it, although John would not have reported it either. But John makes such an excellent preface about it, that we have to believe that the Lord Christ was not only concerned with the apostles having clean feet, but with something else and higher. As the Lord shows with his sermon, which he preaches after such foot washing; he wants his disciples to follow his example and not to forget the foot washing among themselves. Therefore the Christians also practiced such foot washing on this day. But because of the preaching of it, it happened, as with other things in the priesthood, that only the outward work was practiced, but the understanding, use and custom of such foot washing was completely lost. Therefore, it is necessary that such teaching and understanding be brought to light again.
Now the beginning that John makes in this history seems somewhat strange. For what, may someone think, serves to wash the feet, that he says: "When Jesus knew that his time was come to depart out of this world unto the Father. As he loved his own who were in the world, so he loved them to the end." How do these words rhyme with history? Very well, if you will only pay attention to it. For he says, "Jesus knew that the hour had come for him to go to the Father out of this world. By this he wants to awaken in us a special diligence, so that we should pay attention with all seriousness to this work and the sermon he is preaching, since the Lord wanted to present this to us almost in the last hour when he was to depart from this life. Now it is certainly true that what our dearest friends say or do shortly before their end moves us more and goes deeper to our hearts than anything else they said or did during their life. For when it comes
When the death of a child comes, the dying are done with scolding and joking, and what they say or do then is from the heart and is their real earnestness.
(3) John said, "I will now tell you this story and this sermon, which you should therefore listen to more carefully and remember more diligently, because it was the last work of the Lord Jesus, and also his last sermon, which he began over the washing of the feet and finished on the way out to the Mount of Olives. There one may feel a special seriousness. Because it would not have been such a necessary trade, he would have forgotten with other great worries and anxieties of such bad work, as we think.
(4) For this purpose John also tells us of the love the Lord had for his disciples, so that we may learn that this foot-washing is such a work, and hold out such a doctrine to us, by which we may feel the special love of our dear Lord Jesus for us. So two great causes are found together here, why we should let such history be commanded to us: the first, that he did it shortly before his end; the other, that he does it to prove his love. It must follow that we are very much interested in this work and sermon. For where Christ's love and kind heart compels a work, it cannot be bad nor small.
(5) For what purpose John shows in these words, saying, Jesus loved his own who were in the world. As if to say, It was now time for the Lord to depart from the world, but his disciples were to remain longer in it; for they needed such an example and instruction, if they would otherwise remain his true disciples, and not be deceived by the examples of the world. For the world's diligence is plain to see; everyone thinks how he can get there, others stay and suffer what they want, the world cares little for them. Whoever then lives in the world and does not want to be seduced by such astonishments, let him stay here, says Christ, and follow this example, which I now let you see, that I am the Lord. But I about
Do not deprive me of my dominion; I serve you and you do not serve me. Learn this and do it, and you will be blessed and remain unchallenged from this evil.
6 John also reports with special diligence how the devil had already told Judas to betray Jesus. He wants to show that his apostles and Christians will not only challenge the examples of the world, but also the devil, and that he will drive them to his own honor, power and hope. There is no other counsel, help or remedy against this, except that we should model this example of Christ for ourselves and follow it with earnestness, which the Lord, out of special love, since he was now to be delivered into the hands of the Gentiles, did not leave behind, but wanted to present to us.
Now, to be in the world is actually to be in the midst of the devils. It is impossible for us to govern ourselves properly if we do not keep to God's word, and especially to this example. For the flesh does not like to be pressed, it always wants to be on top and nowhere on. To avoid this temptation, the Lord has set this example before us, so that we may remember it and follow it. For he means well, and is pure love and burning fire toward us, that he would gladly warn and protect us from harm and sin.
(8) Thus John makes a fine preface before he speaks of the washing of the feet, so that we may learn what Christ intended to indicate by it, and how faithfully he meant it with us. But thousands and thousands of times this story of foot washing is sung and read today in monasteries and convents, and yet no one understands it.
(9) But what is this that John says further: Jesus knew that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going to God? These are excellent great words, with which John wants to indicate to us, with what thoughts the Lord Jesus had dealt, before he now wanted to wash the feet of the disciples: that he did not think of his suffering, nor was he grieved in spirit, as soon follows the washing of the feet; but he had thought of his
Glory, in which he was with the Father from eternity, and to which he should now return after his humanity and remain in it eternally. These were high thoughts, which should have drawn him out of the world in such a way that he would not have thought of any human being.
(10) But just now, as he is going about with such thoughts of eternal glory, he rises quickly and unexpectedly from the table, lays aside his cloak, takes an apron, girds himself, pours water into a basin, and starts to wash his disciples' feet, drying them with the apron, so that he was girded.
(11) Now rhyme his thoughts and his work together. His thoughts are: I am God and Lord over all; it is even less to do than for one day, so the devil has done what he can. After that he shall lie at my feet together with all my enemies and leave my Christians satisfied. But what is the work? He, the greatest Lord, does what servants and maids usually do in the house, and washes the feet of his disciples.
(12) So he wants to lead us by his own example and show us that just as he expressed his glory, forgetting it immediately, and did not abuse it for his own glory, power and splendor, but served his servants with it, so we should also do the same, not overburden ourselves with our gifts, not abuse them for glory, but serve our neighbor with them with all our will and use them for his good. For this is how the Lord himself interprets the washing of the feet afterwards, when he says: "Do you know what I have done to you? You call me Master and Lord, and you say rightly, for I am also. If then I, your Master and Lord, have washed your feet, you shall also wash one another's feet. An example have I given you, that ye should do as I have done unto you. Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord, neither is the apostle or messenger greater than he that sent him. If ye know these things, blessed are ye that do them." Then you see what the right washing of the feet is, and know that for this reason the Historia is written
is that you should learn them diligently and abide by them.
The pope with his monks and priests, kings and princes, wash the feet also today. But all their humility is exceedingly bad humility, should it be called humility in any other way. For many are found among them who wash the feet of their convent, chapter and subjects with such humility that afterwards they have to confess of the courtly conduct they have practiced in washing the feet. For, dear one, tell me, what kind of humility is it, or what good does it do another, if you wash his feet?
14. This would mean that our feet would be properly washed if our bishops would take to heart how great a pity it is that their poor people are so deeply immersed in idolatry, have no proper preaching of the forgiveness of sins and eternal life, and would strive for God's word to be properly preached to them, and the idolatrous ceremonies and services, with the mass, with the sacrifices at sea, and the calling of the saints, would be abolished, and the people would be directed to proper worship, so that they might fear God, have His word before their eyes, and take comfort in the sacrifice of our dear Lord Christ. But we see that they not only do not think of such foot-washing, but still deal with it, how they may defile the feet of their poor subjects even more wickedly, and keep them in idolatry and false doctrine. That is to say, they have ever followed the command of our dear Lord Christ in an evil way. May God have mercy on them, and ward off the wretched devil who drives and rides the blind people in this way.
15 They themselves call the ceremonies in the papacy with a Latin name the mandate, which in German is so much as a command or commandment. But Christ does not mean the work. For though he says, Ye shall wash one another's feet also, yet he interprets himself in a fine way, saying, An example have I given you, that ye should do as I have done unto you. Verily, verily, I say unto you, the servant is not greater than his lord." These are clear words, that it is up to him: If you are in great esteem for the sake of your office (as will follow), that you do not exalt yourself,
but to serve others with it who are inferior and do not have such a gift. For this reason, when the Lord preaches about love at the end, the mandate and the command are clear when he says: "I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. But what is the nature of love? Namely, to serve with what it can, and to prove all friendship and good will, not to despise, not to be proud, not to do evil. This then is the right washing of feet, since the Lord commands it here.
16 Therefore the washing of the feet, which is done with water, is not to be done; otherwise one would have to wash the feet not only of twelve, but of everyone; and the people would be much better served if it were only a matter of the water and washing, that one ordered a common bath for them, and washed not only their feet, but their whole body. But it has not the opinion. If you want to follow Christ's example and wash your neighbor's feet, see to it that you humble yourself from the bottom of your heart, that you use all the gifts and graces you have, not for your own benefit or honor, but for the good of your neighbor, that you despise no one, and that you are glad to help everyone in his weakness, and that you help him to improve himself.
(17) Such foot washing is not to be practiced this day only, but throughout our lives, with all that we can and have, and toward all whom we can serve with it. So Christ wills that we also wash one another's feet according to his example; for this he also commanded, and not otherwise.
18. But let those especially remember the washing of the feet and practice it diligently who have been gifted by God with special understanding and other gifts and have been called to head the church, so that they do not abuse such gifts for their own honor, benefit or power, but faithfully serve their churches with them. For if our dear Lord Jesus Christ, who well knew that it was now time for him to go to the Father and begin his eternal kingdom of grace, humbled himself so deeply that for our sake he became obedient to God the Father to the point of death, even death on the cross, how much more will this be necessary for us poor people, whom the Lord has not given the gift of understanding?
He especially creeps up on us day and night and lays ropes for us everywhere, so that he may lead us into hope and make us look more to honor and our own benefit than to our ministry. If it goes according to his will that the church servants forget this command of Christ and seek honor and power, he knows well that not much more harm can be done to him with preaching.
19 As can be seen in the example of Pope. As soon as he turned the ministry of preaching to worldly power and began to seek lands and people, splendor and glory, the word and the proper worship fell away. For he had so much to do with such things that he could no longer wait for the church. And the devil has brought it about in the papacy that not only the word and the right worship have fallen, but lies and idolatry have been introduced into the church in heaps, since it carried money and was useful for the preservation of the priests' splendor.
(20) There is no doubt in my mind that the Lord, when he showed such humility by washing the feet, saw how the church government would be especially in the last times, that the service would be forgotten and only honor and splendor would be thought of. For the misfortune soon began that the bishops quarreled among themselves, and each wanted to have precedence over the others; therefore they could not remain one, until finally the Antichrist came to Rome, and brought the matter to such a point that he snatched the primacy to himself, and brought it to such a point that he became powerful over emperor and king, and made himself the sole heir to the chair of Peter and governor of Christ. That is, I mean, to humble himself and wash his feet, as the Lord so faithfully commands and teaches here. Yes, behind him.
021 But it is so. Judas, when the Lord washed his feet and preached such a beautiful sermon, did the same. He did not let any of it go to his heart, but in the meantime he plotted how he could get the thirty pieces of silver and betray and sell Christ, but he succeeded badly. The Lord sees this, and is
He is grieved about it in his heart, as the evangelist reports soon after the washing of the feet. He is not grieved for Judas alone, but he has seen that Judas would leave behind him a large group of disciples, all of whom would rather sell and betray Christ than lack the silver pieces. This grieves the Lord and makes him sad in his heart that he means so faithfully at his last end, and he allows himself to pay so much to help the poor people in their souls. But in Judas and his disciples all that the Lord speaks and does is lost. They do not want to wash the feet of others, but for the sake of their church office, that they are called pope, cardinals, bishops and the church, they want to be such lords that emperors and kings have to wash the feet of Asia and worship them. Before they would renounce such splendor and power, they would rather deny, even sell and betray Christ a hundred times over; yes, they would rather suffer that God's word be trampled underfoot and that no man be saved. As you can see, the pope and his whole entourage are always working so that the right doctrine is crushed to the ground, the old idolatry is restored, and they may be preserved in their splendor, wealth, and glory.
(22) We should let go of such disciples of Judas, and remember that we are not preachers and church servants because we are great lords, but because we should be meek and humble, faithful to our church, and serve our neighbor with all the gifts we have, and thus always wash the feet of others. In this the Lord Christ is especially honored and pleased. In this way we cannot protect ourselves any better from the snares of the devil.
(23) For the devil is especially directed at the preachers with this temptation, that he may try them, whether he may also bring his own honor and profit. If this happens, he has won. For then, as reported before, they will be so busy with worldly affairs that they will not respect the Lord Christ, his word, his church and the right worship, but will even forget. The example is before our eyes and only too much in the day.
24 No church servant should be safe from such temptation, and should therefore think about and practice such foot-washing all the more diligently. For as St. Paul says, "A stake was put in his flesh, the angel of Satan, who smote him with fists, lest he exalt himself to high revelation; how much easier it is with us poor people, whom God has indeed placed in a great, high office in His Christendom. There is no lack, one has these, the other those gifts. Blessed then is he who does not exalt himself with them, but leaves the table with the Lord Christ, unclothes himself and washes the feet of others, that is, he who serves his neighbor, not himself, with such gifts.
(25) So this example of washing feet applies especially to those in church offices, that they should wait diligently for their service and not exaggerate their office, but serve others in all humility. For God has placed them there, not for their own sake, but for the sake of His Christians: they are to serve them faithfully, and not to complain about any driving or work.
(26) This example and humility should then be followed by all other Christians in general, regardless of their status. Kings and princes are in a worldly state, as they are called; but if they want to be Christians, they must also wash the feet of their subjects. For God has not placed them in such a high position that they alone should lead their splendor, seek their pleasure, and do what they desire; but with all the gifts they have, they should serve their subjects. First of all, that they provide their subjects with proper church servants, that God's word be faithfully and rightly proclaimed to them, that all idolatry be increased, and that proper worship be instituted. They owe this to God; they will never have blessings or happiness for themselves, but they will faithfully keep them. For how can God give happiness and salvation to those who despise His word and force their subjects into public idolatry and false worship?
27. after that it is also called foot washing, where one in temporal government is diligent, serious and
Where people do not indulge day and night, play and hunt, but strive to maintain and promote unity, to pacify the country and its people, to feed the Turks and other enemies, and to provide justice for everyone equally. If kings and princes were to take such foot-washing seriously, they would have enough to do, not only on Green Thursday, but throughout the year, yes, throughout their lives, day and night, and often as soon at night, when others are lying down and sleeping, as during the day. For since both the church and the secular government are on their necks, there will not be much rest who wants to order both properly, and watch diligently and keep up with it.
28 But, as reported above about Jude and the pope, one also sees such things here, that such foot washing is commonly left standing, and in the meantime one deals with the mere spectacle or spectacle, since the people are not helped by anything. For everyone can wash his own feet if need be, or find someone else to whom he need not be so afraid as before the great lord. But to establish peace and even justice, to keep things right and orderly in the church with the sermon and service, this cannot be done by everyone, but only by those who are called to such a high office.
In the lower and lesser classes it should be the same. Master and wife in the house then wash the feet of their children and servants, if they do not keep themselves tyrannical, but accustom their own to God's word, faithfully preside over them, and draw them to God's fear, that they may become godly, and do what they are commanded to do. Thus a Christian household may wash one another's feet daily, if one is kind to another's infirmities, and is not always angry, cursing, and in need of all earnestness. The servants can wash the feet of the rulers if they are pious, faithful, obedient and diligent in their work, not grumbling when they are punished and admonished for their good.
30 In sum, if you have a grace or gift that your fellow Christian does not have, let it be ministered to him, whether you are a ruler or a commoner. Be
Do not despise him who does not have such gifts. So wash his feet properly, as Christ commanded.
(31) But you will find that such foot-washing is much more difficult and more sour than that hypocritical foot-washing where an abbot or prior washes the feet of his monks, a bishop of his chapter. One bends down there, but those whose feet are washed must bend even lower. For the world's splendor will not suffer otherwise, and yet the people are not served by such foot washing. But here you serve the people, if you humble yourself from the heart against everyone, and what you have more and better than other people, use such for their benefit: since your Adam would much rather seek his own honor or advantage, would much rather take revenge on others, would rather oppress or dampen others.
32) After this, it means washing our feet in general, that we should not only serve others gladly with our gifts and not overburden ourselves with them, but that one should forgive another's shortcomings and, as St. Paul calls it, bear one another's burdens. For there is no other way out, so that you will not find a pure Christian in the whole world who does not have a particular fault or infirmity. One is angry; the other sad and strange; the third cheerful; the fourth meager and exact; the fifth even too free and mild. In sum, as the pagans also said, each one has his own burden and unwillingness to bear.
Thirty-three Then methinks, if such a defect were not in him, thou wouldst rather deal with him; but hear, if thou seest such a defect in thy lord, wife, child, servant, neighbor, or other, wash his feet, that is, hold such infirmity against him, and see how thou canst right him, and remember how it is in truth, that the world is nothing but a dry place, where it is not possible for us to walk in it; we must defile the feet. This happens to me, it happens to you, and in sum to all people. What shall we do then? Shall we then run into the desert or the woods, and have fellowship with no one, as the monks of old did?
have? No, if you wash other people's feet, you must not live alone, but in the midst of people, and among people who wade in the world through an unclean, muddy place. Even if you have beautiful, clean feet, you must bend down to help your neighbor, bring water, old rags, straw and hay, and wash and wipe their feet until they become clean.
34 As St. Paul says, this means that one should bear another's burden, that is, that one should warmly accept another, have compassion on him, not despise him, but reach out to him, kindly instruct him, advise him and help him, so that he may also be improved. If you are sensible, wise and learned, do not despise the foolish, simple-minded person, do not think you are better, but use your wisdom to help him and make him wiser. So you are pious, keep yourself modest with food and drink, do not let yourself be angry soon; another does not have such grace: therefore do not despise him, take care of him, and improve him with what you can, and remember thus: I, praise God, do not have such a fault, but I have another; so I need to be patient with me and to be helped to bear it. On the other hand, my neighbor also has some good virtue in him, so that he can serve me again. So that unity and kindness may be practiced and maintained everywhere.
If such foot washing were always practiced among us, think what a fine, Christian, quiet, united life there would be among us, where one would always help the other, where no one would harm the other, but would speak the best of all, and always work so that others would be helped and improved. Then we could also have the consolation that we have not forgotten this command of Christ, but have complied with it a little; we could also take the word that Christ says here: "Blessed are you if you do these things. Since, on the other hand, we must always have the sting in our conscience because we do not obey such a command, that we are wretched people, since neither happiness nor salvation is with us.
36. but such foot washing is given to the
old Adam very sour. For he always preferred to be served than to serve others. And it is especially painful for him when no thanks is forthcoming. But the foot washing should always be continued, although little or no thanks follows. Therefore, not only diligent practice is necessary, but also constant prayer that God will give us His grace for patience and humility.
37 This footwashing is primarily based on the teaching of a humble, Christian, friendly life, which Christians should lead and practice among themselves, if they want to be disciples of Christ and children of God. Shortly before his death, the Lord wants to exhort us to such humility and service by washing our feet. We have gifts, as great as they can always be, so that we should not be proud, but think: If God has given me this and that before another, then in truth it must have been because of this that He wants me to serve others all the more, to let myself down all the more, and to be careful that the devil does not lead me into hopefulness and presumption. For if we come to that, it is over; then we are not Christ's, but Judas' disciples, like the pope and all his crowd.
In addition to this teaching, the Lord also wants to reproach us with another and higher teaching for his person. For when Peter refuses to be washed, Christ says to him, "If I do not wash you, you will have no part in my kingdom. He is not speaking of washing feet, as if so much were at stake, but of the washing that he did by his blood on the stem of the holy cross, and that was to be distributed to believers through the gospel and blessed baptism. Such washing is not an example for us, because we cannot wash ourselves or others from sins, that is only for the Son of God, who is the little lamb of God that bears the sins of the world. Those who have been washed by Christ continue to do so. Just as they confess that God has given and forgiven their sins by grace through Christ, so they also forgive others from the heart, as the Lord teaches in Matt. 18, and we in the Father
Our prayer. Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.
39) There you can clearly see how such foot washing is to be practiced during our lifetime, which our dear Lord Christ did out of special love, because we have to live in the unclean world.
with his own example, and admonished us to do so at the end. May God grant us His Holy Spirit through Christ His Son, so that we may never forget this admonition and live our lives according to it, amen.